Preview

• Starting Points Map: The Early Greeks

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Minoans and Mycenaeans

• Greek City-States

• Gods and Heroes

Early Greece

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Reading Focus

• What were Minoan and Mycenaean cultures like?

• What were the common characteristics of Greek city-states?

• What role did stories of gods and heroes play in Greek culture?

Main Idea

The earliest cultures in Greece, the Minoans and the Mycenaeans, were trading societies, but both disappeared and were replaced by Greek city-states.

Early Greece

Many parts of early Greek history are still a mystery, but we do know that two distinct cultures developed in early Greece.

• Minoan civilization developed as early as 3000 BC

• Lasted nearly 2,000 years

• Minoan ships sailed over Aegean Sea, possibly farther

• Colonies established on dozens of Aegean islands

• Ships filled with trade goods sailed back and forth between Crete and her colonies

The Minoans of Crete• Much of Minoan life revealed

by excavations

– Solidly constructed buildings

– Private rooms

– Basic plumbing

– Brightly colored artwork

– Artwork shows life tied to sea, women as priests, dangerous games

Excavations at Knossos

Minoans and Mycenaeans

Rapid Decline

• Minoan civilization fell apart rather suddenly, possibly from disaster.

– Large eruption of volcanic island near Crete may have affected worldwide weather patterns.

– Damage to Minoan ports, crops may have weakened society

• Minoans conquered by warlike Mycenaeans

Speculation

• Much history of Minoan civilization result of guesswork, speculation

–Historians cannot read Minoans’ writing, Linear A.

–Does not appear to be related to languages of mainland Greece

• Until writing deciphered, most knowledge will come from art, objects

The Mycenaean States

• Mycenaeans built small kingdoms, often fought with each other

• Name comes from fortress, Mycenae

Minoan Influences

• Mycenaeans traded with Minoans, copied writing

• Became great traders

• Trade increased after they conquered Crete

First Greeks

• Mycenaeans considered first Greeks, spoke form of Greek language

• Earliest kingdoms owed much to Minoans

Mycenaean Differences

• Society dominated by intense competition, frequent warfare, powerful kings

• Kings taxed trade, farming to build palaces, high walls

Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Strength

• To show off strength, Mycenaeans built great monuments like Lion’s Gate

• Kings’ constant quest for power, glory inspired legends

• Most famous, story of Trojan War

Downfall

• War played part in end of Mycenaean civilization, as did drought, famine

• By end of 1100s BC, Mycenaean cities mostly in ruins; dark age followed

• Greek civilization almost disappeared

Trojan War

• War supposedly involved early Greeks, led by Mycenae, who fought powerful city called Troy, in what is now Turkey

• War may not have happened, but ruins of city believed to be Troy found

Mycenaean Strengths and Downfall

Compare and Contrast

How were Minoan and Mycenaean cultures similar? How were they different?

Answer(s): similar—both were trading states; different—Mycenaean writing has been translated; Mycenaeans had frequent wars

A new type of society emerged in Greece in the 800s BC. The society was centered on the polis, or city-state. Each polis developed independently, with its own form of government, laws and customs.

• Polis, center of daily life, culture

• Greeks fiercely loyal to their polis

• Did not think of selves as Greeks, but as residents of their particular city-state

Life in the Polis

• Polis built around high area, called acropolis

• Acropolis used as fortification

• Included temples, ceremonial spaces

• Agora, public marketplace, below

Infrastructure

• Shops, houses, temples near agora

• Gymnasium, athletes’ training grounds, public bath

• Sturdy wall for defense surrounded polis

Other Attributes

Greek City-States

Political Systems of Greek City-StatesEach major polis had a different political

system that developed over time.

• Corinth, an oligarchy, ruled by a few individuals

• Athens, birthplace of democracy

• Sparta, one of mightiest city-states, but least typical

Beginnings • Sparta located on Peloponnesus, large peninsula of southern Greece

• First surrounded by smaller towns; over time Sparta seized control of towns

• After conquering town of Messenia, Spartans made Messenians into helots

War• Spartan emphasis on war not due to fondness for fighting, but as way to keep

order in society

• Helots outnumbered Spartans seven to one, kept in check by strong army

Helots • Helots were state slaves given to Spartan citizens to work on farms so

citizens did not have to perform manual labor.

• As result, Spartan citizens free to spend time training for war

The Might of Sparta

Sparta was led by two kings who served as military commanders. Decision-making was largely left to an elected council of elders.

To support their military lifestyle, the Spartans demanded strength and toughness. All babies were examined after birth and unhealthy children were left in the wild to die.

• Boys taught physical, mental toughness by mothers until age 7

• Entered combat school to toughen for hardships of being soldier

• At age 20 boys became hoplites, foot soldiers; remained in army 10 years before becoming citizens

Combat School

Militaristic State

• Unusual among Greek city-states

• Women played important role

• Trained in gymnastics for physical fitness, to bear strong children

• Women had right to own property, unlike women in most of Greece

Women in Society

Identify Cause and Effect

Why did Sparta’s political system develop?

Answer(s): Because of Sparta's emphasis on war; it was led politically by two kings who served as military commanders.

• Ancient Greeks believed in hundreds of gods, goddesses; each governed one aspect of nature, life

• Example: Apollo controlled movement of sun; sister Artemis did same for moon

• Greeks believed gods would protect them, city-states in exchange for proper rituals, sacrifices

The Gods of Olympus

• Much of what is known about early Greece comes from studying Greeks’ legends, myths

• Myths, stories told to explain natural phenomena, events of distant past

• Greek myths explained where they came from, how they should live, cope with uncertain world

Legends and MythsGods and Heroes

• 12 gods, goddesses were particularly influential in Greek lives• These 12 lived together on Mount Olympus, highest mountain in

Greece• Olympian gods thought to have great power, though not perfect• Myths say gods flawed, often unpredictable—loved, hated, argued,

made mistakes, got jealous, played tricks on each other

• Almost all Greeks worshipped same gods

• Each polis claimed one god, goddess as special protector

• Example: Athens sacred to Athena

• Some locations considered sacred by all Greeks

Worship• Delphi sacred to all Greeks—

priestesses of Apollo were thought to receive visions of future

• Olympia—every four years Greeks assembled there for Olympic Games; athletes competed against each other to honor gods

Sacred Locations

Mount Olympus

• Heroes killed monsters, made discoveries, founded cities, talked with gods on equal terms

• Examples inspired individuals, whole city-states, to achieve great things

• Hubris, great pride, brought many heroes to tragic ends

• Served as lessons not to overstretch abilities

Lessons

• Greeks also told myths about heroes, used to teach Greeks where they came from, what kind of people they should be

• Some heroes, like Hercules, who had godlike strength, renowned through all Greece

• Others, like Theseus, who killed Minotaur of Crete, famous chiefly in home cities

Hercules and TheseusMyths about Heroes

Describe

What role did mythology play in Greek culture?

Answer(s): explained natural phenomena; taught Greeks where they came from and how to act

Preview

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Athenian Democracy

• The Persian Wars

• Map: Persian Wars

• The Golden Age of Athens

• Faces of History: Pericles

• The Peloponnesian War

• Map: Greece Before the Peloponnesian War

• Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of the Peloponnesian War

The Classical Age

Reading Focus

• What were the characteristics of Athenian democracy?

• How did the Greeks manage to win the Persian Wars?

• What advances were made in the golden age of Athens?

• What led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?

Main Idea

The Classical Age of ancient Greece was marked by great achievements, including the development of democracy, and by ferocious wars.

The Classical Age

The prosperity of Athens was due in large part to its stable and effective government. That government was the world’s first democracy, a form of government run by the people.

• Athens, birthplace of democracy

• Not always democratic city

• First ruled by kings

• Later ruled by aristocrats who had money and power

Beginnings• Most Athenians

poor, had little power over lives

• Gap between rich, poor led to conflict

• Official named Draco reformed laws

Reform • Draco thought way

to end unrest was through harsh punishment

• Belief reflected in Draco’s laws

• Harshness of laws worsened dispute between classes

Draconian Laws

Athenian Democracy

• Solon’s laws relieved tension for a time, did not resolve it

• Tensions flared again after a few decades

• 541 BC, politician Peisistratus took advantage of conflict, seized power

• Peisistratus a tyrant• Claimed to rule for good of

people• Violent but popular• People liked fact that he

pushed aristocrats out, increased trade

Peisistratus

• 590s BC, lawmaker Solon revised laws again, overturned Draco’s harshest laws

• Outlawed debt slavery; tried to reduce poverty by encouraging trade

• Allowed all Athenian men to take part in assembly that governed city, serve on juries

• Only wealthy men could run for, hold political office

Revision of Draconian LawsSolon and Peisistratus

CleisthenesCleisthenes took over Athens after Peisistratus

• Reforms set stage for Athenian democracy

• Cleisthenes broke up power of noble families

– Divided Athens into 10 tribes based on where people lived

– Made tribes, not families, social groups, basis for elections

– Each tribe elected 50 men to serve on Council of 500, proposed laws

– Each tribe elected one general to lead Athenian army

Athenian Government

• Those allowed to take part in government expected to:

–Vote in all elections

–Serve in office if elected

–Serve on juries

–Serve in military during war

The Nature of Athenian Democracy

• As democracy, Athens ruled by the people, but not all people able to take part in government; only about 10 percent of total population

• Only free male Athenians over age 20 who had completed military training allowed to vote

• Women, immigrants, children, slaves had no role in government

Council of 500• Created by Cleisthenes

• Wrote laws to be voted on by full assembly

Assembly• Included everyone eligible to

serve in government

• All present voted on laws, all important decisions

• Called direct democracy

Courts • Complex series of courts• Members could number up to

6,000• Chosen from the assembly• Heard trials, sentenced

criminals

Height of DemocracyThree Main Bodies

• Athenian democracy consisted of three main bodies—

• Assembly• Council of 500• Courts

• The archon acted as head of both assembly, Council of 500

• Archons elected for term of one year, but could be re-elected many times

• Public servant, could be removed from office, punished if failed to serve people well

Archon• Most governing done by

assembly

• Some elected officials had special roles

• Among elected officials, generals who led city in war

• Another elected official, the archon

Elected Officials

Special Roles

Analyze

What were the key features of Athenian democracy?

Answer(s): direct democracy; only certain men could vote; consisted of assembly, Council of 500, and court system

In the early 400s BC, the Greek city-states came into conflict with the vast Persian Empire, a larger, stronger opponent.

• Roots of Persian Wars lay in region of Ionia, in what is now Turkey

• Ionian city-states founded as Greek colonies, fell under Persian rule, 500s BC

– Ionian Greeks unhappy with Persian rule

– Wanted independence

– Rebelled, 499 BC

Causes of the Conflict• Ionian Greeks asked fellow

Greeks for help

• Athens sent aid, ships

• Persians put down revolt

– Revolt made Persian emperor Darius angry enough to seek revenge

– Planned to punish Ionians’ allies, especially Athens, by attacking Greek mainland

Revenge

The Persian Wars

The First Persian Invasion

• 490 BC, Persians set out to fulfill Darius’s plans for revenge

• Fleet carrying tens of thousands of Persian troops set out for Greece

• Came ashore near town of Marathon, not far from Athens

Marathon

• Legend says Athenian messenger ran from Marathon to Athens after battle to announce Greek victory; died from exhaustion after delivering message

• Legend inspired modern marathon, 26-mile race commemorating dedication, athleticism

Persian Retreat

• Warned in advance, Greeks arrived at Marathon, caught Persians unloading ships, charged in phalanx, tight rectangle formation

• Persians counterattacked, more Greeks closed in, Persians retreated

First Invasion

• Greek victory at Marathon shocked both Greeks, Persians• Athenians could not believe they had defeated stronger foe• Persians humiliated, furious• Darius planned second invasion, but died before invasion launched• Son Xerxes vowed revenge, continued to plan attack on Greece

• 480 BC, 10 years after first invasion, Xerxes set out for Greece

• Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, animals, weapons, supplies

• Greek accounts say Persian army so huge took week to cross bridge built into Greece

Xerxes

• Faced with invasion, Athenians called on other Greek city-states to help fight off Persians

• Athens, bitter rival, agreed to help

• Had recently built large navy, took charge of Greek fighting ships

• Sparta took charge of Greek armies

Athenians

Preparations for a Second Invasion

Persian army was no longer a match for the Greeks; and within a year the Greeks had won the Persian Wars.

The Greeks worried that they would not have time to prepare their troops for battle. To slow down the Persians, a group of Spartans and their allies gathered in a mountain pass at Thermopylae, through which the Persians would pass to get into Greece.

• Spartans held off entire Persian army for several days

• Persians shown alternate path through mountains; were able to surround, kill Spartans

• Spartans’ sacrifice bought time for Greeks’ defense

The Second Persian Invasion

Second Invasion and Aftermath

• Persians marched south to Athens, attacked, burned city; needed fleet to bring additional supplies

• Athenian commander lured fleet into narrow strait

• Greek warships cut them to pieces

After Thermopylae

Sequence

What events led to the Greek victory in the Persian Wars?

Answer(s): Athens and Sparta allied to fight the Persians; Spartans held off the Persians at Thermopylae, allowing Athens to prepare; Persian supplies were cut off when the Greek fleet destroyed their ships; Spartans led the Greek army to defeat the Persians at Plataea

As leaders in the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta became the two most powerful, influential city-states in Greece. After the wars, Athens entered a golden age as the center of Greek culture and politics.

• After Persian Wars city-states banded together to defend each other, punish Persia

• Largest, richest of alliance members was Athens

Alliance

• Alliance’s treasury kept on islands of Delos

• Alliance known as Delian League

• Athens controlled ships, money

• League grew in membership, power

Delian League

• Some members resented Athenian dominance

• Members who tried to quit attacked by league fleet, forced back into alliance

• League became Athenian empire

Increased Influence

The Golden Age of Athens

A City in Ruins

• People wanted to rebuild Athens after Persian Wars

• Some money for rebuilding came from within Athens

• Substantial amount came from treasury of Delian League

Height of Culture

• Grandest temple, Parthenon, dedicated to goddess Athena

• Athenians expanded port, built new roads, constructed high walls around city

• Rebuilt Athens considered height of Greek culture, sophistication

Collective Funds to Rebuild

• Other members of League not happy Athenians used collective funds to rebuild city, but none powerful enough to stop Athens

• Rebuilding began at top, with acropolis, series of grand temples

Rebuilding Athens

Much of the rebuilding of Athens was due to one man—Pericles, a skilled politician and gifted public speaker.

• 460s, elected one of Athens’ generals, became Athens’ most influential politician

• Great champion of democracy

– Introduced payment for those who served in public offices, on juries

– Encouraged Athenians to introduce democracy elsewhere

Pericles • Commissioned building

Parthenon, other monuments

– Hired artists, sculptors to decorate them

• Wanted Athens to be most glorious city in Greece

– Believed it had best government, noblest people, monuments to prove superiority

Patron of the Arts

The Age of Pericles

Life in the Golden AgeTrade brought great wealth to Athens.

• Merchants from other parts of world moved to city, bringing own foods, customs

• Athens very cosmopolitan as result

– Grand festivals, public celebrations, events

– Athletic games and city theaters

– Athens was the heart of Greek culture

Draw Conclusions

What made the 400s a golden age in Athens?

Answer(s): trade brought great wealth; cosmopolitan city; city rebuilt; center of Greek culture and politics

As the leader of the Delian League, Athens was the richest, mightiest polis in Greece. Being rich and mighty brought many powerful rivals, the greatest of which was Sparta, which wanted to end its dominance.

• Tensions built between Delian, Peloponnesian Leagues

• Mutual fear led to war between Athens, Sparta

Tension Built

• Athens feared military might of another league

• Sparta feared loss of trading

• 431 BC, the two declared war

• Lasted many years

War

The Peloponnesian War

Peloponnesian League

• Sparta head of Peloponnesian League, allied city-states

• Formed 500s BC, to provide protection, security for members

War in Greece

• Initially neither side gained much advantage

• Sparta, allies dominated land; Athens, allies dominated sea

• Athenians avoided land battles; neither side won more than minor victories

Sparta’s Victory

• 415 BC, war broke out again; Sparta took to sea as well as land, destroyed Athenian fleet; Athens surrendered 404 BC

• Peloponnesian War almost destroyed Athens; Sparta also exhausted by war

Plague and Peace

• 430, 429 BC, plague struck Athens, changed course of war

• Pericles, Athens’ leader through beginning of war, among dead

• After plague, fighting heated up until truce in 421 BC

The Course of War

Cycle of WarfareAfter victory, Sparta’s army tried to act as Greece’s

dominant power

• Sparta’s wealth, resources badly strained, power worn down

• Spartans could not keep control of Greece

• City-state of Thebes defeated Sparta, could not maintain control either

• Struggle for power led to long cycle of warfare that left all Greece vulnerable to attack

• 340s BC, Macedonia, Greek-speaking kingdom to north, swept in, took control of all Greece

Identify Cause and Effect

What caused the Peloponnesian War?

Answer(s): mutual fear; Sparta feared Athens would stop it from trading, Athens feared the military might of the Peloponnesian League

Preview

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Greek Philosophy

• Quick Facts: Greek Philosophy

• Greek Literature

• Greek Architecture and Art

Greek Achievements

Reading Focus

• How did Greek philosophy influence later thinking?

• What types of literature did the Greeks create?

• What were the aims of Greek art and architecture?

Main Idea

The ancient Greeks made great achievements in philosophy, literature, art, and architecture that influenced the development of later cultures and ideas.

Greek Achievements

Despite their condemnation of Socrates, the people of ancient Greece were great believers in philosophy. The word philosophy itself comes from the Greek word philosophia, meaning “the love of wisdom.”

• Earliest philosophy traced to 500s BC

• Reached height in Athens during 400s, 300s BC

• Inspired by greatest philosophers—Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Background• First great Athenian

philosopher

• Little known of his personal life

• Students’ writings, including Plato’s, put forth his ideas

Socrates• Writings give clear

picture of Socrates’s thoughts and how he taught

• Socrates interested in broad concepts of human life—truth, justice, virtue

Broad Concepts

Greek Philosophy

• By working through series of questions, Socrates thought people could discover basic nature of life

• Method of learning through questions called the Socratic method

Socratic Method

• Socrates believed philosophers could learn what made good people, societies by asking questions

• Started with basic questions, like “What is truth?”

• Socrates followed up with more questions

Asking QuestionsPhilosophy of Socrates

Theory of Government

• Philosophers most qualified to make good decisions

• Did not support Athenian democracy in which all men could take part

• Plato wanted to make philosopher’s education more formal

• Founded the Academy, which in Plato’s lifetime became most important site for Greek philosophers to do their work

Plato

• One of Socrates’ students, became great philosopher in own right

• Left behind great number of writings that record ideas on wide variety of topics, from nature of truth to ideal form of government

• The Republic argues that government should be led by philosophers

The Third Philosopher

• Aristotle was among students who studied at the Academy

• More concerned with nature of world that surrounded him

• Tried to apply philosophical principles to every kind of knowledge

Inferring New Facts

• Aristotle also helped develop field of logic, process of making inferences

• Example: birds have feathers, lay eggs; owls have feathers, lay eggs; therefore, owl must be a type of bird

Emphasis on Reason and Logic

• Emphasis on reason, logic

• Reason, clear and ordered thinking; use reason to learn about world

• Observe carefully, think rationally about what one has seen

Aristotle

Identify

Who were the greatest philosophers of ancient Greece?

Answer(s): Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

These two works became basis for the Greek education system.

Other Greek literature remains, with a great many works still popular today. Greeks excelled in poetry—both epics and other forms—history, and drama.

• Most famous works are some of earliest

• Epic poems of great events and heroes

• The Iliad and the Odyssey, attributed to poet Homer, tell stories of Trojan War

Homer’s Epics

Greek Literature

• Iliad tells story of last year of war, two heroes—Achilles and Hector

• Odyssey tells story of heroes from the war, with Odysseus who was forced to wander the sea

Iliad and Odyssey

Other Forms of PoetryGreeks wrote many types of poetry besides epics• Hesiod wrote descriptive poetry about works of gods,

lives of peasants• Greeks also created lyric poetry

– Named after the lyre, musical instrument often played to accompany reading of poems

– Lyric poems do not tell stories, but deal with emotions, desires

• Lyric poets – Sappho, one of few Greek women to gain fame as writer; dealt

with daily life, marriage, love– Pindar, late 500s, early 400s; poems commemorated public

events, like Olympic Games

• Among fields for which Greeks best known • Greek authors wrote about and analyzed own past• First major Greek historian, Herodotus• Lived in Greece during wars with Persia; described battles and public

debates in The Histories

• Thucydides lived during Peloponnesian War, wrote about it

• Included primary sources, like speeches he heard delivered

• Looked at sources critically, ignored unreliable, irrelevant ones

Primary Sources

• Another early historian, Xenophon fought in Persia after Persian Wars

• Concentrated less on sources, debates, more on describing famous men; had less critical style

• Work has helped us learn what life was like in 300s BC Greece

Describing Famous Men

History

While the Greeks wrote histories to preserve the past, they created a new form of writing for entertainment—drama, the art of playwriting.

• Earliest dramas part of festivals

• Dionysus, god of wine and celebration

• Group of actors called a chorus

• Recited stories

Athenian Roots

• Dramas became more complex

• Individual actors took on roles of specific characters in stories

• Two distinct forms of dramas developed, tragedy and comedy

Development

Drama

• Many comedies were satires, plays written to expose flaws of society

• Aristophanes greatest Greek comedy writer

• Plays poke fun at aspects of Athenian society, from government to treatment of women

Distinct FormsComedies

• Focused on hardships faced by Greek heroes

• Three great writers

– Aeschylus, Greek myths

– Sophocles, suffering people brought on selves

– Euripides, tragedy brought on by chance, behavior

Tragedies

Find the Main Idea

In what forms of writing did the Greeks excel?

Answer(s): epics, history, poetry, drama

Beauty

• Athenians enjoyed beauty, both written and visual

• Expressed love of written beauty through literature; visual beauty through architecture, art

Enhancements

• To enhance appearance of buildings, added fine works of art, painted and sculpted

• Grandest buildings built on acropolis, at city’s center

Architecture

• Athenians wanted their city to be most beautiful in Greece

• Built magnificent temples, theatres, public buildings

Parthenon

• Most magnificent on acropolis

• Massive temple to Athena

• Begun by Pericles, 447 BC

• Took 14 years to build

Greek Architecture and Art

Greek Architecture and ArtParthenon impressive not for sheer size, but for

proportion• Designers careful not to make too tall, too wide

• Parthenon more than 200 feet long, 100 feet wide– Had doors, no windows

– Surrounded by tall, graceful columns

– Above columns, slabs of marble carved with scenes from myths

– Ruins appear white today, but parts originally painted in vivid hues

– Huge gold, ivory statue of Athena stood inside Parthenon

Human Forms

• Greek sculptors among finest world has ever known

• Particularly adept at sculpting human form; studied people at rest, moving

• Tried to re-create what they saw, paid particular attention to muscles

Roman Copies

• Few original works remain; most copies made a few hundred years later

• Roman artists made many copies of greatest Greek statues

• Many copies survived even after original statues destroyed

Lifelike, Not Realistic

• Greeks wanted statues to look lifelike, active, not necessarily realistic

• Portrayed subjects as physically perfect, without blemishes, imperfections

• Greek statues almost all depict figures of great beauty, grace

Sculpture

Larger Paintings

• Little evidence of larger works; written sources say Greeks created murals in many public buildings

• Often included scenes from Iliad, Odyssey; showed aftermath of battles, rather than battle itself

• Themes similar to tragic drama popular with Athenians

Painting

• Only a few original Greek paintings survive

• Best preserved are paintings on vases, plates, other vessels

• Scenes from everyday life, or from myths, legends

• Most use only red, black; still convey movement, depth

Make Generalizations

What were some characteristics of Greek architecture and art?

Answer(s): architecture—proportion, columns, vivid colors; art—idealistic sculpture depicting the human form; red and black vessels with scenes conveying movement and depth; murals and wall paintings

Preview

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Alexander the Great

• Map: Alexander’s Empire

• The Hellenistic World

• Hellenistic Achievements

• Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts

• Video: The Impact of the Greek Scholars

Alexander the Great and His Legacy

Reading Focus

• How did Alexander the Great rise to power?

• What was life like in the culture called the Hellenistic world that developed after Alexander’s death?

• What were some significant Hellenistic achievements?

Main Idea

Alexander the Great formed a huge empire, spread Greek culture into Egypt and many parts of Asia, and paved the way for a new civilization to develop in those areas.

Alexander the Great and His Legacy

Macedonia rose to power and took control of Greece in the years that followed the Peloponnesian War.

• Most Greeks considered Macedonians backward

– Lived in villages, not cities

– Spoke form of Greek unintelligible to other Greeks

• 359 BC, Macedonia’s fortune changed when Philip II took throne

The Rise of Macedonia• One of Philip’s first actions as

king

• Adopted phalanx system, but gave soldiers longer spears

• Included larger bodies of cavalry and more archers

• Set out to conquer Greece– Faced little opposition

– Quickly crushed armies

– Conquered all but Sparta

Army Reorganization

Alexander the Great

Alexander’s Conquests

• Alexander faced almost immediately with revolts in Greece

• Set out to reestablish control

• Used harsh measures to show rebellion not tolerated

• Crushed Theban army and sold people into slavery, burned city

Alexander Becomes King

• Philip’s conquests might have continued, but he was assassinated

• Title, plans for conquests fell to son, Alexander the Great

• Alexander only 20, but had been trained to rule almost from birth

• Learned warfare and politics from father, mother, and Aristotle

• Within year Alexander’s army had won victory against Persians in Asia Minor

• Moved south to Phoenicia, Egypt; welcomed as liberator, named new pharaoh

• Next destroyed Persian army near Gaugamela, in what is now Iraq; caused Emperor Darius III to flee

Campaigns

• With Greece under control, Alexander decided to build empire

• 334 BC, led army into Asia to take on Persians

• Army relatively small, but well trained, fiercely loyal

• Persian army huge, disorganized

EmpireEmpire Building

Expanding the EmpireWith defeat of Darius, Alexander the master of

Persian world

• Troops marched to Persepolis, a Persian capital, burned it to ground as sign of victory

• But Alexander not satisfied with size of empire

– Led army deeper into Asia, winning more victories

– Led army to the Indus, perhaps to conquer India

– Soldiers had had enough, refused to proceed farther from home

– Alexander forced to turn back to west

• Generals fought each other for power

• In the end, the empire was divided among three most powerful generals

• Called themselves kings– Antigonus became king of

Macedonia and Greece– Seleucus ruled Persian

Empire – Ptolemy ruled Egypt

Power Struggle

• Alexander’s empire largest world had ever seen

• Did not rule very long

• 323 BC, Alexander fell ill while in Babylon

• Died a few days later at age 33

• Alexander died without naming heir

Death at Early AgeEnd of the Empire

Summarize

Why did Alexander’s empire break apart after his death?

Answer(s): He did not name an heir, so the empire was divided among three powerful generals.

By bringing together a number of diverse peoples in his empire, Alexander helped create a new type of culture. It was no longer purely Greek, or Hellenic, but Hellenistic, or Greeklike.

• Alexander made conscious effort to bring people, ideas together

• Married two Persian princesses

• Encouraged soldiers to marry Persians as well

Blending Cultures

• Appointed officials from various cultures to help rule

• Built dozens of new cities, encouraged Greek settlers to move into them

• Most new cities named Alexandria

New Cities

• Alexandria, Egypt

• Located at mouth of Nile, where it met Mediterranean

• Ideal location for trade

• Harbor once busiest in world

Most Famous City

The Hellenistic World

Center of Culture

• With trade money, Alexandrians built great palaces, streets lined with monuments; city was home to centers of culture, learning

• The Museum, temple to spirit of creativity, home to many works of art

Trading Centers

• Alexandria one of largest trading centers, but not only one in Hellenistic world

• Cities in Egypt, Persia, Central Asia trading centers for Africa, Arabia, India

• Traders brought back goods, new ideas like teachings of Judaism

Center of Learning

• Library of Alexandria contained works on philosophy, literature, history, sciences

• Alexandria remained center of culture, learning long after Hellenistic period

Alexandria and Beyond

• Lives of women also changed significantly in Hellenistic Period

• Women had few rights in earlier Greek city-states

• Lives began to improve after Alexander, though women still not equal to men

• Gained rights to receive education, own property

Life for Women

• Shift from Hellenic Greece to Hellenistic world brought drastic changes to lives

• Most obvious change, how people were governed

• City-state no longer main political unit, replaced by kingdom

• Traditional Greek democracy gave way to monarchy

Drastic ChangesLife in the Hellenistic World

Explain

How did society change in the Hellenistic age?

Answer(s): different cultures blended; government changed; women gained more rights

The most influential new school was Stoicism, with emphasis on reason, self-discipline, emotional control and personal morality. Stoics believed people should find their proper role in society and fulfill it.

• Blending of cultures brought significant changes

• Exchange of ideas from different cultures

• New advances in philosophy, literature and science

• New schools of philosophy developed in Alexander’s empire

• One called Cynicism; students rejected pleasure, wealth, social responsibility

• People live according to nature

Philosophy

Hellenistic Achievements

• People should seek pleasure, considered good; try to avoid pain, considered evil

• To find pleasure, develop close friendships with people who share similar ideas

Epicureans

Art and LiteratureArt and literature also changed during

Hellenistic Period• Hellenistic artists learned to convey emotion,

movement in works, especially sculpture• Women became much more common as subject of

art, literature– Most earlier Greek statues had depicted men– Love stories became popular form for first time– Earlier literature dealt with actions of gods– Hellenistic writings focused on common events in people’s

everyday lives

• Tremendous advances in science, technology during this period

• Among great Egyptian scholars, Euclid formulated many ideas about geometry we still learn about today

• Egypt also home of Eratosthenes, who calculated size of the world

• Other Hellenistic scientists studied the movement of the stars; the makeup and inner workings of the human body

• Archimedes, one of world’s greatest inventors, used knowledge of math, physics to create devices

• Developed compound pulley to lift heavy loads; also invented mechanical screw to draw water out of ship’s hold, out of deep well

Inventors • Other inventors not as ambitious as

Archimedes, but clever in own right

• One built tiny steam engine, used to power mechanical toys

• Such devices representative of Hellenistic fascination with mechanics, technology

Mechanics

Science and Technology

Analyze

What advances did Hellenistic scholars make in science and technology?

Answer(s): geometry; calculating the circumference of the globe; study of the movement of the stars; study of the human body; new inventions

Video

The Impact of the Greek Scholars

Click above to play the video.